Why Cali?

Is It Safe? Your Complete Guide to Dental Tourism in Cali

Everything international patients need to know about world-class dental care in Colombia.

Dra. Paola Andrea Chicue Taborda, cosmetic dentist, Cali Colombia

Trusted Expertise

Meet Dra. Paola Chicue

Dra. Paola Chicue is a dentist with 23 years of clinical practice, having personally directed two dental clinics in Cali — combining clinical precision with a premium concierge experience for international patients who value excellence, discretion, and personalized care.

Verify on LinkedIn Meet Dra. Paola

Years of cosmetic dentistry experience

100 +

International patients guided through treatment

Dental clinics directed in Cali

Graduate of Colegio Odontológico Colombiano (UNICOC), 2003, with advanced cosmetic dentistry focus
23 years of clinical experience — from coordinating oral health promotion for the Colombian Air Force to directing two dental clinics in Cali
100+ international patients supported with bilingual treatment coordination
Hands-on trained in ceramic laminate veneers, guided aesthetic veneers, and oral implantology

Credentials & affiliations

UNICOC Graduate

Colegio Odontológico Colombiano, 2003
Colombian Dental Board

Licensed practitioner
Advanced Aesthetic Training

Veneers & implantology

Verify before you travel

Is it safe to get veneers in Colombia?

Safety starts with knowing who treats you. In Colombia you can check any dentist and any clinic yourself, for free, in public government registries before you travel. These are the three checks we recommend, whoever you choose.

1
ReTHUS: is the dentist authorized to practice?

The Registro Único Nacional del Talento Humano en Salud (ReTHUS), run by Colombia's Ministry of Health, confirms that a health professional is registered and authorized to practice. It also shows ethics-tribunal sanctions for physicians, dentists and nurses. Search by ID document number, or by first name and first surname.
- Search ReTHUS (opens in a new tab)
- About ReTHUS (opens in a new tab)
2
REPS: is the clinic a registered provider?

The Registro Especial de Prestadores de Servicios de Salud (REPS), also from the Ministry of Health, confirms that a clinic or independent professional is registered as a health-service provider and which services are enabled (“habilitados”). Log in with user and password invitado, then go to REPS Vigente > Registro Actual and search by name, NIT/ID or provider code. Clinics must also display their habilitación badge (“distintivo de habilitación”).
- Open REPS (opens in a new tab)
3
INVIMA: are the materials registered?

INVIMA is Colombia's food and drug regulator. Medical devices sold in Colombia, which include dental materials, need an INVIMA sanitary registration (registro sanitario). Ask the clinic which brand of material it uses and check its registration.
- Search INVIMA registrations (opens in a new tab)

Before you book, ask any dentist for their ReTHUS and REPS details and check them yourself on the official Ministry of Health sites (Dra. Chicue's REPS habilitación badge: DHSS0165467, verifiable on Minsalud).

Comparing treatments? Read about porcelain veneers in Cali and smile design, or meet Dra. Paola Chicue.

Clinical Experience

Our World-Class Facility

Spaces designed to communicate calm, precision, and a private care experience from the first moment.

Sterilization area marked 'Esterilización' at Dra. Paola Chicue's clinic in Cali — 01

Sterilization (Esterilización)

Modern treatment room prepared for international dental patients in Cali — 02

Treatment Room

Reception desk with 'Paola Chicue Taborda — muestra tu mejor sonrisa' branding — 03

Reception

Dra. Paola Chicue using a 3D digital scanner for personalized smile design — Cali clinic — 04

3D Digital Scanner

What You Imagine vs. What You Experience

What you fear

Unsafe taxi ride from the airport

What actually happens

A personal pickup meets you at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport (CLO), and patients describe being accompanied from arrival to departure.

What you fear

An unknown hotel in an unfamiliar area

What actually happens

You stay in one of our recommended hotels or Airbnb options in Cali, a city that welcomed 298,310 international visitors in 2024.

What you fear

A stressful language barrier during treatment

What actually happens

Communication is bilingual and fast on WhatsApp, from your first message through your last day in Cali.

What you fear

A clinic with uncertain standards or materials

What actually happens

You receive a detailed treatment plan before you travel, and Cali received 5,735 medical-tourism visitors from January to November 2024.

Cali by the Numbers

3M+

Visitors to Cali in 2024

298,310

International visitors in 2024

5,735

Medical-tourism visitors Jan–Nov 2024 (+34.5%); Cali is Colombia's 2nd city for specialized medical services

Direct flights from Miami (~4h) and New York (~5h40)

Nonstop routes to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport (CLO); times are approximate

Visitor figures: Secretaría de Turismo de Cali, Observatorio de Turismo (preliminary 2024 data), reported by El País Cali and Alcaldía de Cali.

Transparent pricing

Clear, upfront pricing after your evaluation

Every treatment plan starts with an evaluation, so your quote reflects your smile — with the same materials and specialist supervision throughout.

Treatment	Dra. Paola — Cali, Colombia
Porcelain Veneers — package 20 lithium disilicate veneers	USD 5,700 — subject to evaluation Includes a 4-night / 5-day hotel stay with breakfast, transportation, deep hygiene, X-rays and 5 resins.
Dental Implant Per tooth (implant + crown)	Price after evaluation
Full Smile Design Complete makeover	Price after evaluation

*Prices subject to evaluation. Every smile is unique. Get a free virtual assessment for an exact quote.

Treatments

Explore the Procedures Patients Travel for Most

Compare the treatments international patients most often pair with a VIP stay in Cali.

Considering veneers? See porcelain veneers in Cali: 2-3 visits, designed with a digital 3D scanner and built to last 10-15 years or more. Planning a full makeover? See smile design in Cali.

Porcelain Veneers

Custom porcelain veneers designed with a digital 3D scanner for 10-15 year smile transformations in Cali.

See treatment details

Composite Veneers

Repairable resin veneers delivered in 1-2 visits for patients who want a faster and more accessible upgrade.

See treatment details

Smile Design

A personalized smile plan designed digitally with a 3D scanner and completed with veneers, crowns or whitening.

See treatment details

Dental Implants

A 6-month implant protocol with medical-grade titanium, specialist planning, and a final crown on your second trip.

See treatment details

Porcelain Crowns

CAD/CAM porcelain crowns in zirconia and lithium disilicate, designed with a 100% digital workflow for a perfect fit and natural translucency.

See treatment details

Teeth Whitening

Professional 3-session in-office whitening combined with personalized at-home trays — natural-looking, enamel-safe results that last about 1 year.

See treatment details

Dental Cleaning

60-minute professional deep oral hygiene protocol with ultrasonic scaling and prophylaxis — recommended every 6 months and before any dental procedure.

See treatment details

Voices of Confidence

Patients explain why they trusted Dra. Chicue and Cali for treatment.

Dental Implants & Crowns

Andrew

International patient

Composite Veneers

Adalberto

Patient testimonial

Smile Design

Gilea

Patient testimonial

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cali safe for medical tourists?

We share verifiable figures rather than promises. According to the Secretaría de Turismo de Cali (Observatorio de Turismo, preliminary data), Cali received 3,033,000 visitors in 2024, including 298,310 international visitors (+12% vs. 2023), and 5,735 medical-tourism visitors between January and November 2024 (+34.5%); Cali is the 2nd preferred city in Colombia for specialized medical services (El País Cali, Alcaldía de Cali). Before booking, check your own government's travel advisory, for example the U.S. State Department travel advisory for Colombia. During treatment, our team coordinates private airport pickup at CLO, transport to your clinic appointments and a stay in carefully selected hotels or recommended Airbnb options.

Is it safe to get veneers in Colombia?

You can check it yourself before you travel. In Colombia, any dentist's registration and authorization to practice, plus any ethics-tribunal sanctions, can be looked up for free in ReTHUS (Ministry of Health). The clinic's registration as a health-service provider and its enabled services are listed in REPS, and dental materials sold in Colombia need an INVIMA sanitary registration. Before you book, ask any dentist for their ReTHUS and REPS details and check them yourself on the official Ministry of Health sites.

Do you arrange airport transportation?

Yes. We coordinate private airport pickup at CLO and direct transport to your hotel and all scheduled clinic visits, so you never need to negotiate local transportation on your own.

Where do international patients stay?

Most patients stay in carefully selected hotels or recommended Airbnb options in Cali, chosen for comfort, convenience, and easy access to the clinic.

Is your team fluent in English?

Yes. The concierge flow is designed for English-speaking patients, including WhatsApp communication, treatment explanations, post-op instructions, and logistics support.

What happens if I need urgent medical support?

We keep an emergency response plan for every international patient and can coordinate with major Cali providers such as Clinica Imbanaco and Fundacion Valle del Lili if broader medical support is ever needed.

Are the dental materials high quality?

Yes. Treatment planning is based around internationally recognized materials and systems, including brands such as Ivoclar Vivadent and Straumann, selected according to the clinical case.

Do I need a dental cleaning before veneers, implants, or whitening?

Yes. Healthy gums and clean enamel are mandatory for predictable cosmetic and restorative results, so most international patients start their trip with a professional dental cleaning in Cali on day one — a 60-minute deep oral hygiene protocol with ultrasonic scaling and prophylaxis.

How do international patients pay?

Patients commonly pay by international card or bank transfer. Final payment logistics are reviewed before travel so there are no surprises when treatment begins.

Can I explore Cali during treatment?

Usually yes. We structure appointments so most patients can enjoy restaurants, cultural stops, and light sightseeing between visits, depending on the procedure and recovery window.

Your Safety Is Our Priority

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Already in Cali or planning your trip? Drop by Centro Comercial Capri or reach out — our concierge team will guide you from your first message to the chair.